Former ICE Acting Director Calls for De‑Escalation of Minnesota Operation Amid Surge
Updated (3 articles)
Massive ICE surge deployed in Minnesota More than 2,000 ICE officers entered Minnesota last month, conducting over 2,000 arrests in what federal officials label the state’s largest enforcement effort to date[3]. The operation, described by ICE as a “surge,” targets individuals booked in local prisons and jails, reflecting a data‑driven focus on criminal histories[1]. Video released by DHS shows officers confronting a suspect on a snowy Minneapolis street, adding visual context to the rapid escalation[3].
Minnesota and Twin Cities file emergency lawsuit State and city attorneys lodged a federal complaint seeking a temporary restraining order to halt or limit the enforcement action[3]. The filing argues the operation is “arbitrary and capricious” and exceeds ICE’s expertise, particularly in fraud detection for government programs[3]. Plaintiffs contend the surge jeopardizes public safety and should be subject to judicial review while the case proceeds[3].
Washington watches detention surge, weighs legal options The Tacoma ICE detention center reports a 105 % increase in daily detainee counts over the past year, prompting the state attorney general’s office to consider a lawsuit similar to those filed in Minnesota and Illinois[2]. Legal experts note Washington shares key factors with those states, though the state has not yet experienced the same enforcement intensity[2]. The Keep Washington Working Act, already in place, bars state and local law enforcement from assisting ICE, and Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs provides online resources for affected residents[2].
Former ICE acting director urges restraint John Sandweg, former ICE acting director, defended the Obama‑era emphasis on targeting criminal‑history inmates and warned that the current publicized tactics diverge from historic ICE practice[1]. He rejected claims that federal agents would confront protesters or stage overt actions, emphasizing the need to respect local constraints and avoid inflaming public passions[1]. Sandweg called for a balanced enforcement stance that maintains focus on serious offenders while de‑escalating visible, high‑profile operations[1].
Sources
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1.
King5: Former ICE director criticizes Minnesota operation, calls for de‑escalation – Highlights Sandweg’s defense of past ICE strategies, his rejection of confrontational tactics, and his appeal for a middle‑ground enforcement approach.
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2.
King5: Washington weighs potential ICE lawsuit as arrests and protests rise – Details Tacoma detainee surge, Seattle mayor’s condemnation of arrests, and the state’s legal considerations under the Keep Washington Working Act.
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3.
King5: Minnesota and Twin Cities sue to halt ICE crackdown as federal enforcement surge unfolds – Reports the filing of a federal lawsuit seeking a restraining order, ICE’s deployment numbers, and the release of bystander video documenting the Minnesota operation.
Primary Data (2)
Timeline
2009‑2016 (Obama era) – ICE pivots to a criminal‑history‑focused enforcement model and sanctuary cities emerge as local jurisdictions prioritize public safety over immigration raids, a practice former acting director John Sandweg later cites as historic precedent. [1]
Dec 2025 – ICE launches its largest‑ever enforcement operation in Minnesota, deploying over 2,000 officers and making more than 2,000 arrests within weeks, dramatically escalating federal immigration activity in the state. [3]
Dec 2025 / early Jan 2026 – A fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis ignites nationwide outrage and fuels protests against ICE actions across multiple states, including Washington. [2]
Jan 12, 2026 – Minnesota and the Twin Cities file a federal lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the ICE surge, arguing the operation is “arbitrary and capricious” and exceeds ICE’s authority, especially in fraud enforcement. [3]
Jan 12, 2026 – DHS posts a bystander video on X showing ICE officers confronting individuals on a snowy Minneapolis street, providing visual evidence that intensifies public debate over the tactics used in the Minnesota operation. [3]
Jan 13, 2026 – Washington’s attorney general reports a 105 % rise in daily detainees at the Tacoma ICE facility over the past year and begins evaluating a potential lawsuit similar to those filed by Minnesota and Illinois, while the Keep Washington Working Act continues to bar local cooperation with ICE. [2]
Jan 13, 2026 – Seattle police confirm ICE arrests near Aurora Avenue; Mayor Katie Wilson calls the arrests “unacceptable” and likens them to “kidnapping people going about their lives,” reflecting heightened local opposition. [2]
Jan 17, 2026 – Former ICE acting director John Sandweg criticizes the Minnesota operation as deviating from historic ICE practice, saying it “does not reflect the agency’s traditionally targeted enforcement” and urges a “balanced enforcement stance” that “maintains bad‑guy enforcement while stepping back from overt actions.” [1]
2026 (future) – Legal experts say Washington could plausibly file a lawsuit against ICE, though no formal action has been taken yet, suggesting the dispute may expand beyond the Midwest. [2]
External resources (6 links)
- https://www.seattle.gov/iandraffairs (cited 1 times)
- https://law.marquette.edu/poll/2025/10/02/new-marquette-law-school-poll-national-survey-finds-continuing-large-majority-who-say-a-president-must-obey-the-supreme-court/ (cited 1 times)
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/692879/independents-drive-trump-approval-second-term-low.aspx (cited 1 times)
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/696635/neither-party-dominates-favorability-trust.aspx (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2010367128524730533 (cited 1 times)
- https://us-immigration-enforcement-minnesota/ (cited 1 times)